Theater-chair



(No Model.)

J. A. LITTLEFIELD.

THEATER CHAIR.

No. 364,944. Patented June 14, 1887.

thvirnn STATES PATENT Eaten.

JOHN A. LITTLEFIELD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

THEATER-CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 364,944, dated June 14-, 1887.

Application filed August 5, 1880. Serial No. 210,148.

To all whom it nmy concern.-

Be it known that I, John A. LITTLE'FIELD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Theater-Chairs, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in folding chairs commonly used in theaters and halls; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide a folding chair simple in arrangement and easily folded; second, to allow a larger floor-space to be occupied than is generally used; third, to give more clear floorspace when folded, and thus make an easier egress.

I attain these objects by the mechanism and arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention with one chair partially folded. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the chairs folded. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the arms of two adjoining chairs.

Similar letters refer to milar parts throughout the several views.

0 is a standard firmly fixed to the floor, provided with a side, K, and an arm, 0, and to this standard, on either side, by hinged joints E E E E, having rods F F passing through both upper and lower joints, I attach the backs '3 B", and to each of said backs is attached a seat, A A", by hinged joints or pivots II at each corner of the back part of the seats, and on the other side of said backs B B, by hinged joints E E E E similar to those by which said backs are attached to said fixed standard 0, I attach movable standards D D'", provided with sides K and arms 0. The seats B B are supported in rear by joints II, the pivotal pin fastened to the seats resting in the sockets on the frame of the backs, and in front by pins or ledges M upon the fixed standard O and inner side of movable standards D D".

(No model.)

wardly on hinges E 11 E, thus clearing all the floor-space covered by said chairs except that covered by the actual aggregated thickness of the several parts folded together, as described and shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 I have shown the hinge-rods 1?" F F F encircled with torsional springs G G G3 G, which are connected at one end with the movable standards D D and fixed standard 0, by the end of the spring passing around the back of said standards, and the lower ends passing around the frame of the backs B B their functions being to automatically fold the several parts together, as above described. It is obvious that said movable standards and said backs may be folded against said fixed standard by hand, without said torsional springs, if desired.

To prepare the chairs for occupancy, I have only to fold the parts outwardly and turn the seats A A down between the several standards, the said seats holding the said movable standards apart, resisting and preventing the torsional springs, if used, from acting until the said seats are again turned upward. The legs of the movable standards D D are curved inwardly toward the front of the seat, that they may bear the pressure of the seats, and when the chairs are unfolded their feet rest against a fixed plate, I, of any convenient shape. This plate may be used or not, as desired, its function being simply to assist in giving firmness to the movable standards.

The fixed standard 0, I fasten to the floor in any suitable manner.

\Vhen two seats adjoin, the arms and sides come close together, as shown in Fig. 3.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a folding chair, in combination, a fixed standard, 0, provided with side K, with ledge M thereon, and arm 0, the back B connected with said standard 0 by hinge-joints E" E, and rod F, encircled by a torsional spring fastened to said fixed standard and back B,'thc seat A", connected with said back B by hinges H, the movable standard D, provided with arm 0, and side K, having ledge M thereon, and inwardlycurved leg, and connected with said back by hinge-joints E E", and rod F, encircled by a torsional spring fastened to said and connected with backs B B, respectively, by hinge-joints and rods encircled by torsional springs fastened to said standards and backs,

all arranged and operated substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 15th day of July, A. D. 1886. p

JOHN A. LITTLEFIELD.

Witnesses: 7

W. HAYNES, I H. DUNHAM. 

